Eminent Educationist With A Vision

Rudra Raj Pande, one of the illustrious sons of Nepal, is remembered by all sections of the population with profound respect, a sense of pride, and humility for his memorable and outstanding contributions in various fields such as Nepali language, literature, culture, religion, education, and, above all, spiritual enlightenment. Born in BS 1957, Pande did his Masters in History in BS 1981 from Allahabad University, India, and was appointed Professor at Tri-Chandra College. He was also appointed Headmaster of Durbar High School in BS 1982.

 In fact, Sardar Pande provided leadership to Durbar High School as Headmaster and to Tri-Chandra College as Principal for a total of 26 years, 13 years at Durbar High School and 13 years at Tri-Chandra College, from BS 1982 to BS 2008, with great distinction. Sardar Bhim Bahadur Pande, former planner, administrator, and diplomat, recalls in his article ‘Sardar Rudra Raj Pande: The First Nepali Headmaster’, the happiness of all teachers and students, including the writer himself, who was then an 8th-grade student, when Sardar Rudra Raj Pande assumed his new post as the first Nepali Headmaster, succeeding Sarada Prasad Mukherjee, a Bengali Headmaster from India. Sardar Pande created a new academic atmosphere, as his first job was to maintain discipline in the classroom and the school as a whole. While the teachers who regularly visited the Rana rulers to flatter and please were negligent in their duties, the students, some of them children of the Rana family, used to be absent from the classroom and showed disrespect to the outgoing Headmaster. Sardar Pande stopped all this unruly behaviour at once. The quality of school teaching further improved when college teachers, too, started taking classes for upper-grade students. New methods of learning and teaching were introduced, with the result that Ram Prasad Manandhar, who later became Ambassador of Nepal to the UK, topped the list at Patna University.

 The Rana rulers, who were not very enthusiastic about the necessity and importance of education, were impressed by Sardar Pande’s performance. Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shumser attended the school function as the chief guest and distributed prizes to the school toppers. It was unprecedented in the history of Durbar School. Another major contribution of Sardar Pande was to encourage and promote the teaching and learning of the Nepali language. Balkrishna Sama’s play Mukunda Indira was staged with school students playing different roles and watched with great interest and pleasure by the Rana Prime Minister. Rudra Raj Pande’s first novel, Rupamati, also, helped propagate the Nepali language. Both Mukunda Indira and Rupamati attracted a lot of public attention and enhanced the image of Headmaster Pande.

As Principal of Tri-Chandra College, Sardar Pande revamped the syllabus by adding Political Science as one of the subjects and introduced new courses such as Zoology and Botany, apart from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Intermediate science classes were upgraded to Bachelor of Science. He encouraged students to take part in competitions such as essay writing and debate. Tutorial classes were organised for weaker students. Sardar Pande, who believed in academic sanctity, never allowed the police to enter the college premises, even at a time when student activists were agitated in BS 1997 due to the martyrdom faced by prominent opponents of the Rana autocracy. Opposed to untouchability in institutions of higher learning, Sardar Pande facilitated the admission of students from backward and socially disadvantaged communities such as Muslim, Damai, Kasahi, and Kusle. It was a bold step and an act of courage in social reform. He upheld the right of all Nepali citizens to study, irrespective of caste and creed.

 The Rana regime was overthrown and replaced by democratic rule in BS 2007. The literacy rate was almost negligible. Tri-Chandra College was the only institution of higher learning. To address this issue, Dr. Badri Raj Pande, the youngest son of Sardar Pande, observes that the National Education Commission was formed, headed by Sardar Rudra Raj Pande, with the assistance of educational advisor Prof. Hugh W. Odle from Oregon University, USA. The Commission recommended the establishment of Nepal National University, to be located in a suitable guesthouse in a cool climate. However, the idea remained only in the Commission’s report for a long time until a search for a new building in BS 2012.

 Nepal’s oldest university, Tribhuvan University, was formally launched in 2016 under the TU Act, recently endorsed by parliament. Sardar Pande, who was living a retired life devoted to spiritual pursuit in Varanasi, India, was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University in BS 2021 by the late King Mahendra. Sardar Pande accepted the offer and returned home to discharge his new responsibilities as TU Vice-Chancellor with renewed vigour, dedication, and sincerity. During his 5-year tenure, Sardar Pande shifted the university from Tripureshwar to Kirtipur. His first priority was to introduce postgraduate classes in physics, chemistry, zoology, and botany. Sardar Pande strongly believed that research was inseparable from teaching and that research alone would open up new avenues of knowledge and skills. He took the initiative to establish the Institute of Nepalology, which was later transformed into the Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies (CNAS).

 Apart from research, no less importance was attached by Sardar Pande to a well-equipped library. He collected rare manuscripts and relevant books on different subjects by personally approaching people to donate books from their collections. Pande lost no time in developing the physical infrastructure of the university. To mention a few, the Central Library building, Arts Faculty, Kanti Hostel for Girls, Iswari Girls’ Hostel, a number of science faculty buildings, a stadium, teachers’ quarters, university guest house, cafeteria, students’ club, Health Centre, and TU Memorial Hall were built and inaugurated during the tenure of his office. Precisely speaking, Sardar Pande changed the map of the university from a barren land to an academic centre bustling with energy and creativity, mentally, physically, and intellectually.

 Former senior TU librarian Narayan Misra writes: Sardar Pande looked upon all teachers, students, and TU employees as his own family members. However, he would not compromise on each individual’s abilities as a scholar and researcher who could contribute to academic excellence at the university. While he discouraged sycophants, he always encouraged honest and competent faculty members and employees of the university.

 Having served the university for 5 years and transformed it into a centre of excellence worthy of international recognition, Sardar Pande returned to Varanasi to resume his life of spiritual pursuit away from worldly snares and material attachment. He passed away peacefully in BS 2043, at the age of 86. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace.

(The author is a member of the Rudra Raj Sahitya Sewa Samiti Advisory Committee.)